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Farm
Annual Research Reports on the Web
Location
Castana, Monona County
Directions: Go 4 miles east of Castana on County Road
E-34.
Size
240 acres
Owner
Western Iowa Experimental Association
Association President
Kyle Bohnker
Charter Oak, IA 51439
History
The association purchased the farm in 1946.
Contacts
Wayne Roush, Ag
Specialist (Livestock)
(712) 885-2802 office
Agro-Climatic Zone
Western Iowa Loess Hills
Soils
Gently sloping ridges and steep side slopes that
gradually change to well-defined valleys characterize this
region. Sloping soils are very erosive and require
terracing, contouring and other conservation practices.
Predominant soils are:
Ida:
6-30 percent slope, well drained, occurs on narrow divides and steep side slopes
Monona:
5-14 percent slope, well drained, occurs on ridges and s strongly sloping side slopes
Research
Beef Cattle. Animal scientists study beef carcass quality to evaluate the effects of various grazing techniques and feedlot performance.
Swine. Researchers use bedded hoop structures to demonstrate low-input swine production.
Forage. Researchers are studying the possibility of improving the productivity of warm-season pastures by interseeding legumes. Researchers evaluate livestock performance on this pasture system and in intensive rotational grazing systems. Based on this research, it should be possible to develop site-specific recommendations for the establishment and management of prodctive summer pastures in western Iowa.
Crops. Studies focus on fertilizer requirements of corn grown in different cropping systems, the effects of fertilization on soil properties, the rooting patterns of soybeans, the effects of sulfur and zinc fertilization on corn, evaluations of corn herbicides and evaluation of methods for managing corn with reduced herbicide applications.
Facilities
Beef handling facilities include a 16-pen cattle feeding unit. Extensive pastures support grazing and forage studies. Deep-bedded hoop structures are used in the low-inut swine project.
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